London: Chelsea’s Russian oil billionaire owner Roman Abramovich said on Tuesday if his expensively assembled side failed on the pitch he would go out and spend more.

The 36-year-old told the BBC in his first television interview since buying the club for £140million last month that he had also been surprised by the amount of attention he had received since taking over.

“I haven’t thought about how much money I am going to spend,” he said.

“But if I think we need another player because we are not getting the results on the pitch then I will spend the money required.

“I must say I didn’t realise that my buying of Chelsea would receive so much attention, but then football is like a religion in England and I suppose it was merited.”

Abramovich rejected criticism from some Russians that he should have invested the money in a team in his homeland.

“Some people, who call themselves Russian patriots, thought I should have spent the money in Russian sport.

“However it is not a free country like in England and we are not used to people spending money on sports teams.”

Abramovich has lavished £36.9 million since he bought the club on new signings.